Isn't it interesting how so many times we consider all we are doing for Christ without even thinking of the fact that it is his grace and love that draws us on to do such acts of love and kindness? The daily inspirations that come to us are not coincidences. They are invitations from God to live our humanity to the fullest, as we were created to live it.

God's loving choice and desire for a relationship with us is pure gift that we can neither take credit for or have control over. Perhaps this would be a good day to give thanks for all God has freely given us and invited us to.

If you want to journey with us on our Glory Bound Mercy Mission, click the button above!

We are in the midst of a Parish MISSION which has taken much of our time! We'd like to share it with you, for those who may want to journey with us for the next few days. We'll be back to our Reflections next week!

Before we share our reflection for today, we just wanted to take the time to thank the close to 400 readers of our blog and Resurrection Reflections! We hope that they have been moments of grace for you. All of our readers are in our daily prayers.

We'd love to hear from you, so don't be shy!

Now, to our sharing during a week that has been super-busy!

"The word of God continued to spread and grow." (Acts: 12:24)

During this Year of Mercy, I cannot help but think about the touch of mercy that was always a part of the Early Christian Community and which must have been the fuel which ignited the faith to spread forth from twelve men to me. What power there is in compassion and mercy and love!

I pray today that I may be on fire with this same kind of compassion and love. I know that I fail miserably at times, when I circle around my own petty wounds and walk by others without a glance. Yes, it happens, too often! Yet, am I not also called to be compassionate and merciful and loving to myself? Can I cut myself some slack, forgive myself and get back up again to love and to be compassionate again? There is always an opportunity to do this.

Who is God asking me to extend a gentle and compassionate word to today? Who is in need of a smile? Who can I pray for?

Lord Jesus, my your word and may love for YOU continue to spread and grow in our own time. Amen!

Amoris Laetitia, The Joy of Love, has become the "talk of the town" for some circles these days. The new Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis on the topic of love in the family, is online and able to be ordered on a pre-order basis from most bookstores. It seems as if people cannot get enough of the words and example of Pope Francis.

The document is very long and the Holy Father encourages us to take our time reading it. It is not something that will be easy reading. Still, I think it will be worth reading and "digesting" for love within the family and the holiness of the family is something that our world and our country sorely needs.

Some voices "out there" are already criticizing the Holy Father's latest document. Really? Could they have read and brought all of this to prayer already? I don't think so. If you begin reading it and have any insights to share, I'd love hearing from you!

How many times have I heard that whatever way I speak to another or treat another, is the way I am speaking or treating Jesus? Does this matter to me? Do I know this, yet refuse to let it touch me in my inmost being?

A retreat director once told me that she thought that really, we know deep down inside when we are not living as we are called to live. If we are honest with ourselves, we really do know. I believe this to be true. I may play games with myself and others and even God, but deep down, if I let myself face who I am right now, I know what God is asking of me. Why do I then keep playing games?

The picture above bothers me because it is not the first time I have seen a photo of a starving, suffering child. This problem is beyond my responsibility, I may tell myself. I cannot solve this problem. These excuses may be true, but what can I do?

When I was a teacher, I believed that I could help the many teens in my care to realize that they can help others through their future careers, etc. In this way, I felt as if I was helping by "sending forth" many into the future to do their part. I still believe this to be true, but perhaps God is asking something more of me right now, when I no longer teach.

What are my possessions? Am I violent in my thoughts, words or actions? (Just ask the driver who cut me off this morning when I was trying to get to work!) How do I treat others in my own circle of life? Am I a life-GIVER or a life-INHIBITOR?

I will pray these questions in God's presence today God will help me to change the things I need changing with. He helped Saul / Paul. There is HOPE for me! After all, Paul tells me in his letters that "Nothing, (not even my own sins and failings), can ever separate me from the love of Christ." He ought to know. :)

Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment. (Acts 8:1B-8)

Today's reading about the persecution of the Early Church and the arrests Saul was making in an effort to destroy the Church, brings to my mind the thought of how one never knows how God's grace can touch a person and enable them to change. Saul, became Paul, one of the greatest saints of the Church.

Pope Francis has initiated a Year of Mercy and among his many statements encouraging us to live mercy, says "Situations can change; people can change. Be the first to seek to bring good. Do not grow accustomed to evil, but defeat it with good." When I think of this in connection with today's reading, I not only think of the change that others' make in their lives, but also the changes God is asking me to make in my own life.

As God showered graces upon Saul /Paul and helped him to change, so God gives me grace-upon-grace to grow in holiness. Do I believe this? Do I believe that I can change a sinful pattern in my life? Do I believe that I can grow in virtue? Do I use age or situations or something else as an excuse for not making the effort to change?

Paul's live was not without suffering. Change may cost and bring suffering. Perhaps it is the dread of dealing with personal suffering that keeps me from changing. What was it that helped Saul change? I think it was his deep love for God, rooted in his Jewish Faith. There was nothing that Saul would not do for God. When he was touched by God's redeeming grace, his vehement search for those who followed Jesus of Nazareth became transformed into his zealous proclamation of "Jesus is Lord!"

God can help me in my own personal transformation. God can help others too. Perhaps this is why Pope Francis' quote "Who am I to judge?" has become so popular.

Three days. I know that's not a sentence, but to me it says a lot. Three days seems like a very short time for someone who is waiting for an anniversary, birthday or other occasion. One might say, "Only three days to go before we celebrate!" For one who is grieving and does not know that the glory of the Resurrection will be coming, three days, three months, or a lifetime seems very long. Perspective means a lot.

I am thinking today of those who mourn the loss of a loved one and agonize over the physical loss, wishing his or her resurrection would be right now. It takes faith, doesn't it? It takes faith and trust in God's love, to hang on and wait without having our needs and wants met.

Whatever your situation of waiting, right now, I wish you hope and peace. I wish you the grace to persevere in life, despite the agony of waiting. I wish you and myself a sense of perspective. What flows in and our of the time we have to live on earth is not inconsequential. All is gift for one who knows that God loves him or her unconditionally.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if we lived without counting minutes, days, years or any time? It would certainly change our lives and our world in dramatic ways. Maybe it would be freeing. Maybe it would help us to treasure the present moments of life and not worry about what we call the past or the future. After all, I know I cannot control the past, which is over and done, or the future, which is yet to be. I can, however, control the way I live and respond to the present. I can even make a difference in my little corner of the world. No one may notice, but God most certainly does.

Stay tuned for more info about our Parish Mission coming on April 26th! Those near and far can benefit, for we will be live-streaming and saving a video for each presentation online.Celebrate this wonderful time of renewal with us!